KENNY TATE NAMED TO NABC ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

Senior Joins Tyrone Mason as Boro's Only First-Team All-Americans

EDINBORO, PA - During the past three years the honors have poured in for Edinboro University men's basketball standout Kenny Tate (Philadelphia, PA/Chester). But one honor has eluded the senior, and that was NABC All-American honors. That is, until now.

After recently being named a first team Daktronics All-American for the second straight year, Tate can now add NABC All-American honors to his resume. He was voted to a spot on the 2002 NABC/Pontiac All-America teams, garnering a spot on the first team. Voting is conducted among member of the National Association of basketball Coaches.

He joins Tyrone Mason, Edinboro's all-time leading scorer, as the only Fighting Scots to earn NABC All-American accolades. Mason was a first team choice in 1995-96. The rest of the first team of the 2002 NABC/Pontiac All-America team consists of Niki Arinze of Henderson State, Ronald Evans from Kentucky Wesleyan, American Internationals Malik Moore, and Ronald Murray of Shaw.

The 6'3", 210 lb. senior completed his three-year Edinboro career with another brilliant season. He led the Fighting Scots both in scoring (18.6 ppg.) and rebounding (10.5 rpg.) for the third straight year. Thanks largely to his efforts, Edinboro finished with an 18-9 record and advanced to the PSAC Tournament. The forward shot 49.3 percent from the floor (199 of 404) and was 101 of 131 from the free throw line (77.1 percent). He led the Scots in steals with 42, finished second in blocked shots with 17, and was third in assists with 51. All three figures were the highest of his career.

The forward finished the season with 14 double-doubles and 14 games of 20-or-more points. In 81 career games, he accumulated 46 double-doubles and scored 20-or-more points in 40 games. As was the case throughout his three seasons, Tate saved his best games for Edinboro's toughest opponents. He scored a season-high 28 points against Gannon and had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Indiana (PA). In addition, he had 27 points vs. Mercyhurst and 27 points and 10 boards vs. West Chester, and matched his career high with 18 rebounds against Mansfield, adding 24 points. He had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting vs. California (PA), and concluded his career with a 24-point, 9-rebound effort in the playoff loss to the Vulcans.

While playing in just three campaigns, Tate departs as the fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,552 points, just one shy of Tim Smiley's third-place figure, and third in career rebounds with 843. In addition, he stands fourth in career field goals made (623), fifth in career field goals attempted (1,244), tied for fifth in free throws made (297), and third in free throws attempted (415). He holds the 9th, 11th and 13th-highest scoring totals for a season, and his season rebounding figures ranked 7th, 9th and 12th. Most importantly, Edinboro posted a 52-29 record in his three campaigns, finishing in first place in the PSAC West each of the last two seasons. Tate also became the first player in Edinboro history to score 500-or-more points in three different seasons.

"This is the culmination of a great career," exclaimed head coach Greg Walcavich. "Just to be mentioned in the same breath with Tyrone Mason is high praise, but Kenny definitely deserves it. He improved every year he was here. Kenny provided us with a double double night in and night out, but he also was a tremendous leader. It would be difficult to be more consistent than Kenny has been over the last three years. To average a double-double every season, particularly the way teams keyed on him this year, is quite an accomplishment. Obviously, I couldn't be happier that the rest of the coaches around the country agree with my assessment that Kenny is one of the best players on the Division II level."

The latest recognition culminates three years of individual awards, including first team Daktronics and second team Basketball Times All-American honors the past two years. In addition, Tate was named an honorable mention Division II Bulletin All-American last year. He was recognized as the 2002 PSAC West Player of the Year and is a three-time All-PSAC First Team Selection. The Basketball Times and Division II Bulletin 2002 All-American Teams will be announced shortly.

2001-02 NABC NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

~ Fighting Scots ~

Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index

Created on ... 3/21/02